Bay of Islands

New Zealand is extraordinary. Around every corner is a change of scenery and it's a place where one can experience all four seasons in a single day. It is magical.

The Bay of Islands was a place full of sunshine and delight. I arrived on a Friday via Nakedbus (of course) in Paihia where I met two lovely girls from Canada. We became instant friends and decided to all bunk together at The Base- the same backpackers I stayed at in Wanaka and Queenstown. What was different about this Base though was that it had the total tropical feel with balconies and outside seating areas as well as a bar attached to it just off the beach.

We arrived around 3pm and after getting settled in, the girls and I went for a walk around town and along the bay front. We then went to the Four Square and all bought dinner items and returned to the hostel to feast! We met people from all over the world who were also cooking their dinners at the same time and we chatted over our meals. There are so many special people in this world and I have been blessed to encounter a large number of them on this crazy adventure.

The next morning a group of us got up bright and early to enjoy the sunrise and went for a cup of coffee at a local cafe. A few of us had signed up for the discovery cruises offered at the bay so after a delicious coffee, we headed in that direction. My friends had registered their cruise through Great Sights and I through Dolphin Discoveries so we would have to go separate ways at the dock. We arrived fifteen minutes before departure and set foot upon our different boats. Mine being a flash yellow and black-

The Bay of Islands is exactly what it sounds like-- it is a bay filled with 144 islands, big and small, each surrounded by the most beautiful turquoise water.

After settling in and having the captain explain the rules and regulations, we revved up our engine and let the adventure begin. We cruised through the bay, dodging islands left and right with our guide informing us about the different islands. Some had homes upon them while others had many tourist accommodations strategically placed with the most incredible views available.

A half hour into the cruise we were greeted with one of the most amazing aquatic shows I've ever experienced. About twenty Commom Dolphins approached our boat, jumping and flipping about as they circled and attacked their prey. Gulls and various other types of birds joined in, diving into the middle of the chaos. The show went on for about twenty minutes when out of the frenzy sailed a fifteen foot Bryde's Whale. I couldn't believe it! The show was already too magnificent and then one of my favorite mammals made it even more incredible. He breeched multiple times before he returned to the abyss. We stayed until the show calmed and the dolphin pod all but disappeared. Out into the open sea we cruised in the direction of the magnificent Hole in the Rock.

It took fifteen minutes to reach our destination and what a rewarding sight it was-

Not sure how one country can possess so many extraordinary places, it just isn't fair to the rest of the world. It was too rough to cruise through the hole but we spent plenty of time admiring it from afar.

As we ventured back, the captain showed us to the small lighthouse that sat on the cliff near The Hole.

The water was quite rough on the way back so I fastened myself to the bow in order to get the most of the roughness, and glided up and down with the rock of the boat. A few got sick but I was too encompassed by the views surrounding to even think about getting sick. Rain and shine we went through, until we reached the islands once again.

More dolphins greeted us with their presence; this time Bottlenose Dolphins. The water was so blue it almost hurt my eyes to watch as the dolphins so peaceful surfaced all around us.

As you can see, a calf was present so we were unable to join them in the water. Hopefully I'll get to swim with these beautiful creatures some other time before I leave.

I watched as they glided through the water ever so peaceful, sending me into a dreamlike trance. The natural beauty of the country keeps me baffled in every adventure. I'm in love with everything about this place.

I got off the boat in Russell, a town across the bay from Paihia. The lovely photographer I met on board was so kind as to give me a ticket to board the ferry back to Paihia after I adventured through Russell. People here are too nice and it blows my mind the hospitality they give people they don't even know. I bid farewell and went exploring. I trekked up the mountain side into the reserve that looked over the whole bay.

Again, the land of never ending beauty. The trek was wonderful and as I set back down, I was surrounded with the songs of Tui's as they sang their heart songs.

I reached town and entered a bay front cafe where I enjoyed a cup of tea before I boarded the ferry. I sat next to two women who I could instantly tell were American. We started chatting and I asked them all about their adventure; ends up they were from Hawaii and California but had a beach house in my hometown in Florida! So crazy! Small as world it is we live in. I gave them some tips on places to go and places they could afford to skip. We exited the ferry and gave hugs good bye as I wished them luck.

I returned to my hostel, ate some lunch, and geared up for a run. As I began my run, it started to rain (good thing I wore my rain jacket). Rainbows revealed themselves at every turn as the rain came and went, working hard to glass over the bay's surface. It was one of the best runs I've ever had. 45 minutes of sheer delight. I returned drenched, yet satisfied.

After showering and hanging out for a bit, I made dinner with my hostel mates and we prepared for a night of fun. The All Blacks were playing South Africa so we stepped into Base's bar and enjoyed the game while meeting people from all over the world. I met two of the most beautiful German men and ended up talking with them most of the night. I wrote them a small itinerary of must sees and dos as they would be traveling the country for the next 3 weeks. I should be a travel guide. The All Blacks won 29-15, but not after my Sam Cane got a bloody face from a mean South African player. I wanted to jump through the screen and beat him up! It was a great game though and a great night.

To end my time in Paihia, I woke up early Sunday morning and went kayaking through the islands. It was a warm morning and the sky was partly cloudy but mostly sunshine.

I stopped off at an island and had a look around until the wind picked up and it became quite chilly.

I paddled back to the mainland and returned my kayak to the very nice man that owned the boat shack. What a great way to start the morning. I returned to Base, ate lunch, then packed up my bag and said bye to all my lovely new friends. I walked the bay front to the bus stop, reflecting on my weekend while admiring all the beauty of the place. It was a wonderful weekend discovering the Bay of Islands and I hope to revisit again some day. <3

The All Blacks && Hamilton

To continue my rugby addiction, it was a MUST DO to attend an All Blacks rugby game. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, The All Blacks are the number one rugby team in the WORLD, and I had to get to a game to experience their muscles, I mean skills first hand!

A few weekends ago Argentina came over to play The All Blacks right here in Hamilton!! So I grabbed a ticket with some friends and made my way over to cheer on the best rugby team on the planet. The stadium looked like a funeral with everyone dressed in ALL BLACK with the exception of those few fans that made the journey from Argentina that sported their baby blue and yellow.

It was a heated game with both teams at each other's throats the whole match. At about halftime the clouds rolled in and made the match even more intense as they let out buckets full of rain.

Not one fan fled though the rain did not prevail the rest of the match.

We stayed until the very end when the All Blacks claimed victory over Argentina with a 28-13 win. It was such a great experience to see this amazing team play live. Counting my blessings every day.

The next morning, my friends Matthew and Will suggested we go tour through the Hamilton Botanic Gardens. These were by far the best gardens I have been to in New Zealand!

The gardens had many different "countries" within and something unique to that country represented in each. For instance, the Chinese Garden led you through a tiled entrance way to reach Whispering Bird Island--

-- then on to cross Wisteria Bridge--

-- to be rewarded at the end with the grand red Ting Pavilion. There was so much culture revealed in each one of the gardens.

The Indian Char Bagh Garden was beyond the most beautiful with its blooming flowers in every which way.

Italian Renaissance Garden was my second favorite with its bronze wolf at the entranceway and elegant bubbling pools throughout.

Traveling through the gardens and learning about different cultures was rewarding and I was so looking forward to what the American Garden would have to offer. Upon arrival, the first thing noticed was a low, blue wall that lined the footpath which looked like it had not been cleaned in ages. Around the corner was something even more disappointing... An empty, scum covered pool that had a molded sculpture that I don't even know what was trying to be resembled in the middle of it. Beyond was a rather large mural of Marilyn Monroe--

Not quite sure what designers were getting at with this "Garden" but doesn't seem to reflect the culture I am familiar with...

The rest of the gardens were lovely and the weather was ever so wonderful for the entire visit.

:) it was a great day with these men.

Rugby Groupie

Yep, I've said it! I am officially a rugby groupie. I think it has something to do with (or everything to do with) their legs... Ripped, shredded, muscular quads in every direction and the shortest shorts and tightest shirts I've ever seen outside of ballet. Of course their athletic abilities are taken into account too ;)

Mareet, her best friend Tracey, and myself all attended the Warriors Rugby game on August 31st vs. the Raiders.

Mareet was able to get us some pretty flash seats where I sat and drooled over the sight of these young men for 75 minutes. Lucky for us they warmed up along our sideline :)

The game was great too! Manu Vatuvi and Shaun Johnson both scored hat-tricks in the teams 50-16 victory over the Raiders. The game was one of the highest scoring games Mareet says she has ever seen. The crowd was going wild the whole time. The team was on fire!

It was yet again another wonderful rugby experience. Afterward, Mareet's sister, Saya, made us a beautiful dinner and we stayed the night, cuddling hot water bottles in her beautiful cottage just outside the heart of Auckland.

The next morning we strolled down the street to a small bakery where we ate breakfast and then continued on to the waterfront where we admired some of the most beautiful views of Auckland.

It's beginning to get quite warm with Spring is in the air :) flowery days ahead!

Exploring Waikato

I know, I know! I have been the biggest slacker not updating my blog. Let's just say I haven't had much time with all of the adventuring that I have been doing! It has been one incredible month and I'm finding myself beyond in love with New Zealand (minus the fact that as I am sitting here writing this, there is a cyclone going on outside). First time for everything!

Where to begin... Or go back to... Ah! The time I went exploring through the Waikato hills in search of the Port Waikato Caves and got completely lost.. Yes, let's go there.

A few Saturdays ago, my friend Richard and myself decided it would be a lovely day to do some exploring in some random caves that a sign was supposedly guiding us to. So, we drove along in the direction the sign pointed towards through the most beautiful, lush, green hills I've ever seen. The sign said it was only 20k to the caves but as we drove 2 hours along the windiest road I have ever been on in my life, dodging the largest pot holes I've ever seen, it did not seem we were ever going to find the "caves" this sign said were there. After repeating "ok, just around this corner and then we will turn around" about 20 times, one the most beautiful places I've ever seen appeared before me.

It was a scene straight out of The Hobbit. The massive limestone rocks traced the edges of almost every hill in sight, some forming caves and while another housed palms as well as other types of flora.

We continued on for a few more minutes until we knew we had to have gone way over 20k's, if not double that, and turned around. On the way back, Richard and I spotted some small caves up on the side of a large hill and concluded that we at least had to explore some type of cave if possible.

So, we climbed over some fences and scared the wool off of some sheep; walked through the coldest stream I've ever been in (yes, of course barefoot!) and clambered up steep sheets of limestone to sit upon a rock and embrace this mesmeric view--

Cannot say how happy I was we got "lost!"

There are so many places kept secret in this country and seeing as we only saw 3 cars and about 4 houses on this adventure, this is most definitely one of them.

More to come soon :)